Video calling on the Sony UX50
One of the most innovative features of the Sony UX50 is the dual cameras that can be used to shoot photos and video clips, and can also be used as a web cam. One of the cameras is on the top middle of the front of the screen and the other is behind the screen, so you can use the UX50 as a regular camera and watch what you are shooting on the screen. Kevin and I just had to test the UX and earlier today we hooked up over Skype to make a video call. The video performance was excellent and Kevin reports that the audio was better than my normal setup with a noise cancelling microphone. Just to give you an idea how good the video quality is here are a couple of screen snaps that Kevin took to show what he saw on his end (bear in mind it was early today and I hadn’t showered yet 
):
The lighting in my office was not very good either. Overall, I am happy with the video quality and have also snapped some nice photos with the UX.
-jk
JK, could you please pretty please show the actual video that the UX50 shot? :)
Posted by: JuzMe | June 08, 2006 at 07:49 PM
Boys and their toys.
Very cute and thanks for the info.
Can you take a comparison shot of the UX and a U? And any other devices like the Treo, iPod, etc.?
Thank you.
Posted by: fil | June 08, 2006 at 08:29 PM
You had not showered!! I am pleased that the UX50 is not yet equipped with smelly vision ;)
The video call functionality looks impressive.
Posted by: Mel Buckpitt | June 08, 2006 at 09:53 PM
Only happy with the video quality? I would be ecstatic! With their experience with so many different tech fields, I think Sony is really going to make a comeback in the "Age of Convergence". If they trimmed down the UX50 into a media player with built-in camera, they would have a serious iPod challenger on their hands (still need to overcome the software/content integration though, as well as their DRM issues).
Posted by: Sumocat | June 08, 2006 at 10:26 PM
fil, in the unboxing video there is footage of the comparison of the UX and the U in all dimensions. Also, in the "small desktop" photo there is the UX with the portable keyboard and mouse and the Treo. I will take some photos with other devices in the future.
Posted by: jk | June 08, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Sumocat, I don't think you can trim the UX50 down any further without losing the PC functionality. It is about at the small end of a usable PC IMHO. The smaller size is why the OQO doesn't work for me.
Posted by: jk | June 08, 2006 at 10:42 PM
Kendrick, you are a Fiend Squared! You have too much fun for one human being's quota. Time to start sending that UX around to the rest of us! Ha!
Posted by: Mike Cane | June 09, 2006 at 07:29 AM
Hey, there's an entire site for it now too:
http://www.micropctalk.com/
Posted by: Mike Cane | June 09, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Mike, you are right, I have too much fun doing all this stuff. But, no passing the UX around. You're on your own. :) I wish I had a dollar for every time you've called me a fiend. I'd retire. :)
Posted by: jk | June 09, 2006 at 07:55 AM
I'm looking forward to reading what you think about the UX compared to the Q1. I just ordered a Q1 from CDW yesterday (originally ordered on Wednesday from Best Buy, but after sending me an email telling me it had shipped, I got another telling me that it was backordered...typical from BB), and it will be here by 10:30am. That UX looks great though.
Posted by: Matt Smith | June 09, 2006 at 08:46 AM
"Sumocat, I don't think you can trim the UX50 down any further without losing the PC functionality." --Which is why I wrote "trimmed down [...] into a media player". Yeah, they could beef up the PSP instead, but I cutting down features would probably be easier.
Posted by: Sumocat | June 09, 2006 at 12:17 PM
You're lucky Mike is just calling you fiend and not chucking shoes at you. ;)
Thanks for that link too, Mike. Yet *another* site to check now...
Posted by: Aaron | June 09, 2006 at 12:29 PM